Mining Under the Northern Sky
Meet the guest speakers of Mining Under the Northern Sky. Hosted in partnership by Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM), the Alberta Mining Safety Association (AMSA), and the Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR), this evening event brings together Alberta’s mining community for connection, conversation, and insight.
The evening will feature:
Perspectives from industry and academic leaders, including:
John Rhind, President, Canadian Institute of Mining
Andrew Rosser, Senior Vice President, Syncrude Operations
Simaan AbouRizk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta
Networking with professionals across the mining sector
A relaxed dinner in a unique, historic setting
John Rhind, President, Canadian Institute of Mining
John Rhind is a corporate director with more than 50 years of business and executive leadership experience; over 40 years in oil sands operations. He serves as the President and CEO of Rhind Management Limited, a management consulting firm serving the Canadian oil and gas industry. From 2019 to 2022 he served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Energy Safety Canada, a not-for-profit safety organization, after having served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Rhind held several executive officer roles at Shell Canada Ltd., including leading the Oilsands business as Vice President, Heavy Oil. Before joining Shell, Mr. Rhind spent 25 years at Syncrude Canada Ltd., where he held management and operational roles across various business divisions, including mining, extraction, and utilities.
John has been actively supporting collaboration across the Mining industry including Board roles with the Mining Association of Canada, APEGA, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. John became a national CIM member in 1994 and was appointed Incoming President Elect in 2024. He currently serves as President Elect and chairs the Human Resource and Compensation Committee.
Mr. Rhind holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Alberta. He is an Independent Director of Finning International; chairs the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and is a member of the Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility Committee.
Andrew Rosser, Senior Vice President, Syncrude Operations
After studying at Keyano College and graduating from the University of Alberta with a Mining Engineering degree, Andrew Rosser joined Syncrude in 1998. For the next 10 years, he served in a variety of positions including leadership roles with Operations, Maintenance, Technical and Business Development before moving onto Shell Albian Sands to support the Jackpine Mine Expansion.
His most recent position with Shell was senior lead of its Mars Corridor, a set of offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. His experience includes the role of Vice President of Environment Health and Safety for Shell Canada before his last two international assignments in the offshore industry.
Andrew rejoined Syncrude in 2021 as Senior Vice President, where he oversees the effective management and stewardship of the Syncrude asset, which is supported by about 4,000 employees with production capacity of 350,000 barrels per day.
In addition to his mining degree, Andrew holds an MBA from the University of Alberta. He is a board member of the Local HERO foundation in Fort McMurray and chairs the University of Alberta’s Mining Industry Advisory Council (MIAC).
Andrew, along with his wife and two children, call Fort McMurray home.
Simaan AbouRizk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta
Simaan AbouRizk, PhD, PEng is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta.
AbouRizk earned his PhD from Purdue University in 1990. Shortly after, he joined the University of Alberta, where he has made significant contributions to construction engineering and management.
He is internationally recognized as a leading authority in construction simulation, driving advancements in construction planning, productivity improvement, and risk analysis. His impactful research has transformed construction practices in Alberta, earning him prestigious accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 and membership in the National Academy of Construction, The Canadian Academy of Engineering and a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada.
AbouRizk has taken on key leadership roles that have affected real change in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering, including founding and leading the Hole School of Construction Engineering (1997 - 2018), serving as Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2018 - 2021), serving as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering (2021 - current).
As Dean, he has supported the establishment of key Research Centers, including the Construction Innovation Centre and the Water Research Centre, fostering clusters for cutting-edge discoveries. AbouRizk also established the University of Alberta Engineering Research Chair program, a competitive program within the Faculty of Engineering, aiming to foster collaborative partnerships with industry. His initiatives, such as the operationalization of the Elko Garage and the ICE Incubator, have significantly advanced student innovation and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, AbouRizk founded SMA Consulting Ltd. and DRAXware Inc., both focused on applying technological advances to address challenges in construction and logistics. Under his leadership, SMA has received numerous awards for its commitment to innovation, while DRAXware has become a leader in remote logistics solutions. Through his work, AbouRizk continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry, driving impactful change in the engineering community.
